Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (finger) is making his return to the starting lineup on the Fourth of July on Friday against the hosting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Spencer Strider, playing third base and batting second in the order. Westburg isn't going to be 100 percent, but he'll return for the O's for the first time since aggravating his left index finger injury last Friday. It's been an injury-plagued year for the 26-year-old, and although he does have seven home runs in 136 at-bats, he's hit just .228 with 14 home runs and 20 runs scored. The former first-rounder in 2020 out of Mississippi State has never faced Strider, a pitcher that is starting to finally hit his stride after a slow start early in the year. When healthy, Westburg is Baltimore's regular third baseman, pushing Ramon Urias back to a utility role.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that after the team placed right-hander Jameson Taillon (calf) on the 15-day injured list on Friday, right-hander Chris Flexen is "a candidate to be stretched out for sure. He's prepared to do a little bit more." Fantasy managers searching for rotation help or streaming options in deeper leagues should have Flexen firmly on their radars, especially with how well he's pitched for the Cubs this year in a relief role. The 31-year-old veteran is a perfect 5-0 with a stingy 0.62 ERA and 0.83 WHIP while striking out 15 and walking eight in 29 innings out of the bullpen. He also has one save. Flexen has a sharp 6.5 K-BB% and plenty of experience as a starter in his seven big-league seasons, so he could get some run in a starting role while Taillon is out.

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The Detroit Tigers activated right-hander Reese Olson (finger) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy to Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Olson is starting Friday's series opener in Cleveland against the division-rival Guardians. The 25-year-old is returning to an ERA under 3.00 and is worth a waiver-wire pickup in deep-mixed leagues if available, but he won't come recommended as a fantasy starter in his first game back. He made three minor-league rehab starts but only got built up to four innings in his final start at Toledo on June 25. The good news is that Olson will be facing a slumping Guardians squad that has the third-lowest OPS (.660) in the big leagues entering play on Friday. Olson's xERA of 3.54 means he could be due some regression in the second half, although his FIP does sit at a strong 2.95.

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The Philadelphia Phillies will reinstert right-hander Taijuan Walker into their starting rotation, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, and he'll toe the rubber on Tuesday in San Francisco against the Giants and potentially go four innings. After that, the team will reassess the situation after the All-Star break. The 32-year-old veteran has been solid for the Phils as both a starter and reliever this year, but he hasn't started a game since May 30, which means he's not going to go too deep into the contest next week in the Bay Area. Walker hasn't thrown more than two innings in an outing since his start on May 30 versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Overall, he's outperformed expectations with a 3.64 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, one save, 46 strikeouts and 22 walks in 54 1/3 frames over 19 outings (eight starts). Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter could be called up early in the second half, which would push Walker back to the bullpen.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera (hamstring) might begin a minor-league rehab assignment, but the team doesn't expect him to return to the major-league roster until after the All-Star break, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. Until Herrera returns, Pedro Pages will continue to hold down the starting duties behind the plate in St. Louis. The 25-year-old Herrera has been out of action since June 19 but should return to starting duties for the Cardinals to begin the second half of the season, barring a setback when he begins a rehab assignment. The Panamanian backstop has been an offensive asset for the Red Birds so far this year by hitting .320/.392/.533 with a .925 OPS, eight home runs, 36 RBI, 22 runs scored and a stolen base in 42 games. He also hit over .300 in 72 games in 2024, but with only five homers and 27 RBI.

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New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (shoulder), who landed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right-shoulder impingement, is expected to resume throwing next week. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Blackburn's prognosis was "relatively good news." The 31-year-old veteran will be shut down for only three to five days. With right-hander Kodai Senga (hamstring) and left-hander Sean Manaea (elbow, oblique) likely joining the Mets' starting rotation soon, there's a good chance Blackburn will be relegated to the bullpen for a long-relief role in the second half of the season when he comes off the IL. The former first-rounder by the Chicago Cubs in 2012 has battled injuries since joining the Mets during midseason last year, and he hasn't been very good in six outings (four starts) in 2025, posting a 7.71 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB.

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New York Mets left-hander Brandon Waddell is tentatively scheduled to make the start in Sunday's series finale of the Subway Series against the visiting New York Yankees, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The Mets could still change their plans for this weekend, but as of right now, Waddell figures to go on Sunday against the Bombers. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw was recalled from the minors and allowed a run in three innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. He also went exactly three innings in his previous two appearances for the Mets, so Waddell should be more of an opener than a traditional starter this weekend. In his first year back in the big leagues since 2021, Waddell has a 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB in 17 2/3 frames. Fantasy managers should be avoiding him if he gets the nod on Sunday.

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MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports that New York Mets right-handed reliever Dedniel Nunez (elbow) is weighing a second Tommy John surgery to fix an injured ligament in his right elbow. Nunez will receive additional medical opinions before making a decision on his next step. The 29-year-old broke out last year while striking out 35.6% of the batters he faced before straining a flexor tendon in his right arm and missing most of the second half. The timing of his latest injury makes it even more disappointing for the Mets, as Nunez hit 99 mph on the radar gun and struck out four in two innings on June 26 against the Braves. He previously had TJ surgery in 2021. Even if Nunez doesn't end up going under the knife again, he's going to be out well into the second half of the season.

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The New York Mets placed right-handed reliever Jose Butto (illness) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with an illness, according to the New York Post's Mike Puma. It comes a day after reliever Dedniel Nunez (elbow) landed on the IL with an injury that could lead to season-ending Tommy John surgery. The good news is that Butto is expected to rejoin the Mets' bullpen shortly after the All-Star break. In a corresponding move, the team recalled right-hander Chris Devenski from Triple-A Syracuse. Butto has been an integral part of New York's relief corps for a second straight season in 2025, going 2-1 with a career-best 2.47 ERA (3.34 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, one save, 39 strikeouts and 20 walks in 43 2/3 relief innings. Butto started seven games last year but has been used exclusively in a relief role this season.

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New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (hamstring) will make a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that the goal is for Senga to throw 60 pitches. If all goes well, Senga should rejoin the team's starting rotation and start next weekend in Kansas City against the Royals. The 32-year-old Japanese hurler could be on a limited pitch count if he returns to face the Royals next weekend, but it would still be an enticing matchup against the team with the fewest runs scored per game in 2025. Senga was a must-start in fantasy before pulling his right hamstring, as he had gone 7-3 with a pristine 1.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 70 strikeouts and 31 walks in 73 2/3 frames over his 13 starts.

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New York Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (elbow) is scheduled to restart a throwing program off flat ground on Saturday, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Megill has ben shut down for three weeks with a right-elbow sprain, but a recent follow-up MRI exam showed a significant reduction in inflammation in his arm. The 29-year-old is hoping to build up quickly from here. Megill has been out longer than expected, but if he can avoid setbacks from here on out, he could rejoin the big-league roster by late July or early August. However, when he's ready to return, both Sean Manaea (elbow, oblique) and Kodai Senga (hamstring) should be back in New York's starting rotation. Before his injury, Megill had gone 5-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts and 33 walks in 68 1/3 innings over 14 starts.

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SNY's Anthony DiComo reports that New York Mets pitcher Justin Hagenman will receive the first start of his career in the first game of their series with the cross-town rival New York Yankees on Friday. The Penn State product has tossed six innings from the Amazin's bullpen this season, but has primarily operated out of the rotation during his time with Triple-A Syracuse. He's 0-2 there through 12 appearances (eight starts) with a 6.21 ERA and .271 average against. Even if Hagenman performs well the next few times he toes the rubber, his time in the rotation won't be for long with the return of teammates Sean Manaea (oblique, elbow) and Kodai Senga (hamstring) looming.

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According to ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers, the Chicago Cubs are recalling starting pitcher Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa. The move comes in response to teammate Jameson Taillon (calf) landing on the injured list with a calf strain. The 25-year-old was up with the big-league squad for a quick stint in April, but allowed five runs over two innings of work and was promptly returned to the minors. Wicks has racked up a 4.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in Triple-A through 11 starts, but he's pitched much better of late -- posting a 1.64 ERA over his last 11 innings of work (three appearances). He'll presumably occupy Taillon's slot in the rotation and should be given a few chances to stick with the veteran set to miss longer than a month with a calf ailment.

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ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers reports that the Chicago Cubs have placed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (calf) on the 15-day injured list with a right calf strain. Left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Unfortunately, the injury occurred during training, and Cubs' general manager Craig Counsell noted he'll be out "longer than a month." Taillon pitched well for a stretch from late May to early June, but faltered in his previous three starts, yielding 15 earned runs and failing to complete five frames in any of them. Overall, the 33-year-old has compiled a 4.44 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 7-6 record through 95 1/3 innings (17 starts) in 2025. We won't likely see him again until mid-to-late August.

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St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (finger) and first baseman Willson Contreras (hand, wrist) are back in the team's lineup for the start of a three-game set with the hosting Chicago Cubs. Arenado sprained his finger over the weekend and had to miss the Cards' previous two games, but he'll rejoin the squad ahead of a critical series with Chicago and bat sixth. Contreras, on the other hand, was plunked by a pitch in Tuesday's outing against the Pirates and missed just one contest with a contusion. He'll operate from the four-hole and across the diamond from Arenado at first base. Christian Encarnacion-Strand will take a seat with the two returning.

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Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (hand) is back in his team's lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Philadelphia Phillies. Steer was hit in the hand by a pitch on Wednesday during a suspended game with the Red Sox, and the swelling forced him from their night outing. Fortunately, he was only required to miss one contest, as he'll slot back in at first base, batting fifth against Boston. The Oregon product turned it around in June to slash a crisp .302/.320/.521 with half of his ten homers, and has brought his overall average to a respectable .252 -- a nice bounce back from the .225 he posted a season ago.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Seth Johnson was recalled to the major leagues earlier on Friday. In a corresponding move, the Phillies optioned right-handed pitcher Mick Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Johnson has logged just 6 1/3 total innings in the major leagues throughout his career. In 2024, Johnson allowed nine runs across 2 1/3 innings of work. Earlier this season, the right-hander made his second stint in the majors and allowed one run across four innings. Through 42 2/3 innings of work this season at Triple-A, the right-hander has posted a 4.43 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP. Johnson has been deployed primarily out of the bullpen. He has struck out 53 batters and allowed 26 walks. In 2024, Johnson held a 2.74 ERA across 23 innings of work. In Philadelphia, fantasy managers should expect Johnson to likely have a long relief role in the bullpen. Given his previous production in the majors, he is not expected to carry much fantasy value.

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Cleveland Guardians shortstop prospect Angel Genao extended his hitting streak to eight games on Thursday during their contest against Double-A Erie. In this game, Genao went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk. During his eight-game hitting streak, Genao has posted a remarkable .500/.588/.667 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and two stolen bases. During this impressive surge, Genao has tallied at least two hits in one game. Through 22 total games with Double-A this season, the No. 55-ranked prospect in baseball has posted an impressive .318/.379/.447 line with six doubles, three stolen bases, and a 15:9 K:BB. Given his elite production at Double-A this season, Genao could be in the mix to earn a taste of Triple-A later in the summer.

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. Schmidt was removed early during his start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday due to forearm tightness. The right-hander is scheduled to have an MRI on Friday, but the team won't wait until they get the results before placing Schmidt on the IL. The severity of the injury is unknown right now, but Schmidt is eligible to return shortly after the All-Star break. Fantasy managers will need to check back after the MRI to get a better timetable on his return. In a corresponding move, left-hander Jayvien Sandridge and right-hander Scott Effross have been recalled from Triple-A.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez was nearly untouchable on the mound during Thursday's outing against the Minnesota Twins. Before this outing, Perez had allowed three earned runs or more in three of his last four starts. Finally, Perez showed what he's capable of doing on the mound during Thursday's start. The right-hander tossed six scoreless innings, allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out seven batters in the win. Perez only needed 80 pitches to get through this outing, so he might've been able to go deeper in the game. This outing shows that Perez has some of the best stuff in the game, but the consistency has been the problem. His next outing will be versus the Cincinnati Reds next week. Perez should be a popular waiver wire pickup after this outing.

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